By the Party of Labour of Austria
October 8, 2024 In Defense of Communism
Declaration of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Austria (PdA) on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on 7 October 1949:
The founding of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) 75 years ago was initially a necessary reaction to the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) by the three Western Allies. With the creation of the FRG, the Western occupying powers – the USA, Great Britain and France – had laid the foundations for the resurgence of German imperialism, albeit under US supervision. Before and after the founding of the GDR, German communists in both countries aimed for a united Germany from which war should never again startWhile the GDR initially emerged from the need to establish an independent state on the territory of the former Soviet administrative zone, it soon developed into the first German-speaking state in which the construction of a socialist society was initiated. The common language also resulted in a special bond between generations of Austrian communists and the GDR, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), the Free German Youth (FDJ), the FDGB (Free German Trade Union Federation) and other political and social organisations and institutions. The Austria-GDR Friendship Society was able to develop lively political, cultural and tourist activities far beyond the circle of communists.
Austria was the second western capitalist country to establish diplomatic relations with the GDR and recognised GDR citizenship with the consular agreement of 1975. A lively cultural, economic and political exchange developed between the two countries. With the active support of the KPÖ and its trust companies set up for trade with the socialist countries, the GDR became an important trading partner and export market for the Republic of Austria. The construction of the Eisenhüttenstadt steelworks by VOEST-Alpine, which was still owned by the Austrian state at the time, is still regarded as a beacon of economic co-operation today. Numerous jobs in Austrian industry were secured through co-operation with the socialist countries.
It should also be noted at this point that Austria was able to pursue an independent foreign policy towards the GDR and other socialist states, as although it was politically part of the imperialist West, it was nevertheless independent in its decisions on many issues. Such decision-making sovereignty would be unthinkable under today’s conditions of complete subordination of Austrian foreign policy to the aggressive and militaristic foreign policy of the EU and NATO.
The GDR was the work of anti-fascists who had learnt their lesson from the murderous wars of imperialism and who, out of the strongest conviction, created the first state in the history of Germany from which no war started.
The GDR was a socialist state in which the common good took centre stage and private ownership of the means of production, housing and land was largely abolished. It was a state in which women’s rights were equal to those of men; in which the care of children was seen as a social responsibility and the right to work was guaranteed by the constitution not only in theory but also in practice.
The GDR could never develop under ‘normal’ conditions. Under the conditions of the Cold War, it was on the front line. It had to cope with huge expenses for the security of the state and its inhabitants, it was confronted with constant enemy propaganda and espionage, with technology embargoes, with sabotage and with the problem of the non-convertibility of its own currency on the world market.
The GDR was an important factor in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) and was a pole of international solidarity. With its political, diplomatic and intelligence activities, the GDR was a factor that contributed significantly to the prevention of (nuclear) war in Europe.
In our opinion, there should be an open debate among communists internationally not only about the strengths and merits of the GDR, but also about its mistakes and failures, with the aim of drawing lessons for the construction of future socialist societies.
For us, however, there is no reason to discuss the mistakes of the GDR with the opponents of socialism, the apologists of capitalism and imperialism, or even to be ashamed for the fact that the communist movement in Austria was always very closely associated with the first socialist state on German soil. We leave this part to the KPÖ and its unprincipled party leadership.
The PdA sees the existence of the GDR as a milestone in the historical process of humanity’s development towards a socialist and communist society. Closely linked to the colossal achievements of this state and many of its great citizens, we are certain that the GDR will hold a firm place in the history of the revolutionary working class movement.
